Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil 7:30pm

In addition to the Holy Saturday Morning prayer service at 8:30 a.m., Holy Saturday is also the night when we celebrate the Easter Vigil. The liturgy is intended to be the first (and arguably, the primary) celebration of Easter since the earliest days of the Church. The service begins in darkness, sometime between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter, and consists of four parts: The Service of Light (kindling of new fire to symbolize the light of Christ returning to the world, lighting the Paschal candle); The Service of Lessons (where we read scared stories of how God has moved in all of history); the Renewal of Baptismal Vows; and the Eucharist.

Why is this service different than any other Easter service?

The Vigil is old, mysterious, and exciting! Through this liturgy, the Episcopal Church recovers an ancient practice of keeping the Easter feast. Believers would gather in the hours of darkness ending at dawn on Easter to hear scripture and offer prayer. This night-long service of prayerful watching anticipated the baptisms that would come at first light and the Easter Eucharist. Easter was the primary baptismal occasion for the early church to the practical exclusion of all others. This practice linked the meanings of Christ’s dying and rising to the understanding of baptism.

What happens during this service?

This is perhaps the most surprising and vibrant service of Holy Week! Not only does the church literally light up with the joy of Christ’s return, we are also joined by the St. James School community! This has become a beloved tradition for both communities and we blend the liturgical styles of both to included different music, prayers, and additional elements.